Getting to Know: Dean Anderson
Dean Anderson is the face of Smartshares for many advisers - but do you know where he spent 2006?
Friday, September 1st 2017, 11:00AM 
1 Comment
by Susan Edmunds
Who are you and what do you do?
I’m Dean Anderson, Smartshares Product Manager. I support the development of Smartshares Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), which has expanded from five ETFs in 2014 to 23 today, with more than $1.9 billion in funds under management. My focus is on maintaining relationships with financial advisers and wholesale groups who invest in our ETFs, while adding to the industry-wide effort to educate potential investors about the value of investing and saving.
How did you get into the industry?
After completing a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in finance, at the University of Canterbury, I started work in the energy sector. I joined NZX five years ago, and since then have held several roles in the energy and data licensing teams. In 2014, I joined the funds management team, and took on the role of Smartshares Product Manager.
If there is one thing you would like to change about the financial advice industry, what would it be?
This graph is from EY’s “The next generation of financial advisers” report. It highlights the challenges our industry is facing to recruit younger advisers, and six steps needed to help turn this around.
Unsurprisingly, the US based report shows that only 22% of advisers are aged under 40, and only 5% are younger than 30. While I haven’t seen any numbers for the New Zealand market, my travels would indicate that the figures aren’t too dissimilar here.
It would be great to see more young recruits in our industry as it provides greater options for succession planning, bridges the cultural gap with different client segments, and encourages diversity of thought.
What’s the best advice you have ever received?
Rather than one piece of advice, I’d like to share an attitude that has been instilled in me around work ethic – push for opportunities, and save for the future (this shouldn’t come at the expense of enjoying life either!).
What could financial advisers learn from other industries?
Like all industries, the financial advice sector is going through a period of regulatory changes, technology developments, and demographic shifts, and advisers need to manage and adapt to these. I have seen discussion groups work really well in other industries. This is where say three to 12 firms get together on a regular basis and share insights into their business in a confidential manner. This builds a strong network to capture opportunities as well as provide support when times are challenging.
What have been the benefits of regulation?
One of the main benefits from the recent FMCA regulation changes has been the increased transparency for investors who can now review standardised offer documents, compare investments and returns on a like-for-like basis, and see what the total costs of an investment are.
What could be done to help get more New Zealanders investing?
Education, technology, and communication are three big levers that will help build financial literacy in New Zealand so that people feel more comfortable investing – as an industry we have a role to play in developing this.
One of the best things about my job is that I get to speak to a range of groups – such as the New Zealand Shareholders’ Association, or attend client evenings held by financial advisers – on the benefits of passive investing. I’ve learnt a lot from these sessions, and it has reinforced to me that there is no shortage of people wanting to learn more about investing, it’s just they simply didn’t know where to start.
Do you think there is further room for growth in passive investments?
Smartshares expect to see continued growth in the uptake of passive investment solutions as advisers and investors become aware of the challenges of finding active managers who can consistently outperform the market over a period of time. Reports like the S&P DJI Persistence Of Australian Active Funds highlighted this with only 3.5% of out performing funds able to continue their outperformance over a five year period from 2012.
Are you a KiwiSaver member?
Yes, of course!
If so, what’s your investment strategy?
A self-managed growth strategy via SuperLife: https://superlife.co.nz/
Outside of work what do you do?
Travel is the top to-do. I recently returned from two weeks in Vietnam – a fantastic country, highly recommend. I have been amazed at the number of people who have also been there this year!
What’s one thing people may be surprised to know about you?
I spent 2006 in Brazil – a big cultural shift going from living in Nelson to the heart of Sao Paulo.
If you weren’t in this job what would you be doing?
Something in the financial sector that involves working and meeting a range of people.
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What is really disappointing from Smartshares’ perspective is the fact that the turnover of passive funds is much less than the turnover of active funds, most often, so the poor legislation actually disadvantages passive funds. I would’ve thought he would be aware of these issues.